In a year filled with the unexpected, the rap community didn’t shy away from tradition, ensuring that 2020 was packed with lyrical warfare, diss tracks, and plenty of outrage. Rap beefs have been a cornerstone of the genre ever since the dawn of hip-hop, serving as a platform for MCs to vent, clash, and most significantly, to prove their lyrical prowess. In 2020, the drama was high, and the bars were vicious. From Twitter feuds to diss tracks, let’s take a look at some of the most significant rap beefs of the year.
2020’s Rhymes and Rumbles: The Biggest Rap Beefs of the Year
At the top of the list, we have the on-going feud between Kanye West and Drake. A beef that started years ago, 2020 saw it reignite with a series of subliminal shots and public call-outs. Kanye accused Drake of sneak dissing him on tracks and chalked everything up to jealousy, whereas Drake has been more subtle, slipping lines about Ye into several songs over the year. Amidst their personal differences and lyrical jabs, however, both artists remained at the top of their game throughout the year.
While the Kanye-Drake feud was more under the radar, the beef between Young Thug and French Montana was anything but. In April, Montana claimed he could go ‘hit for hit’ against Kendrick Lamar, which prompted Young Thug to step in and defend Lamar’s honor. The feud quickly escalated with both trading insults across social media, culminating in a series of diss tracks that electrified the rap community.
Mic Battles and Lyrical Feuds: Unmasking 2020’s Significant Rap Clash
Meek Mill and Tekashi 6ix9ine had a beef that boiled over into the public sphere in a big way. The confrontation started over 6ix9ine’s cooperation with federal prosecutors, which Meek slammed, calling the rapper a “rat”. The feud escalated further when 6ix9ine called out Meek for his criminal justice reform efforts, leading to a war of words on social media and several heated confrontations.
Another notable clash that rocked the rap world in 2020 was between Tory Lanez and Megan Thee Stallion. The feud started after an alleged shooting incident involving the two, and quickly spiraled into a public spectacle. Megan claimed Tory was the shooter, while Tory denied it in a series of songs. The incident has since sparked wide conversations about misogyny in hip-hop and set the rap community ablaze with controversy.
As tumultuous as 2020 was, it certainly fueled some fiery rap feuds. From Kanye West’s subliminal shots at Drake to the public fallouts between Meek Mill and Tekashi 6ix9ine, and Young Thug and French Montana, it was a year of heated lyrical exchanges and dramatic mic battles. These rumbles serve as a stark reminder that beneath the glamorous veneer of the rap world, a fierce competitive spirit burns. Even in a pandemic-ridden year like 2020, it’s clear that the spirit of rivalry in rap is alive and well, adding another visceral layer to the forever evolving narrative of hip-hop. Here’s to looking forward to more lyrical warfare and impressive diss tracks in the future. And remember, in the rap game, the mightiest weapon will always be the mic.